@lighto999 the immune system is in lupus is much more complicated than one particular antibody. Although anti-SSA can actually lead to inflammation (like insensitivity and fetal heart block), its presence may just be a marker of activity and not necessarily active damage or inflammation. The patient was in drug-free remission the entire time after treatment. However, the question is ... will this person's SLE be more apt to return than in someone whose antibodies all disappear? I suspect it will come back, but we will have to wait and see.

My main fear is that B-cell depletors (like anti-CD 19 and anti-CD 20) have led to horrible vaccine response rates and increased deaths from COVID (even recently one of my rituximab patients died of the most recent strain). CD-19 CAR-T patients still respond to vaccines. You are correct, it will not be one size its all. We need to figure out who will respond best to which cellular targets. I foresee this field really exploding quickly over the next few years with more and broader research.

@@DonaldThomasMD Thanks for the reply! Do you have a hypothesis why B-cell depleters (CD19,20) lose vaccine response, while CAR-T does not?

CAR-T programmed cells attach to and kill only cells for which they recognize . More mature B-cells have CD-19 molecules on their surface so they are all destroyed. However, the most immature cells in the bone marrow that can become mature B-cells are still present and they reproduce, repopulating the body with important B-cells to fight off infections. However, so far, they are not producing bad lupus antibodies like anti-dsDNA. That is why the scientists call it "resetting the immune system." However, cells producing anti-SSA are still alive, probably the most mature B-cells called plasma cells, so we have a lot to learn. Also, could the immature cells that do not contain CD-19, could they become abnormal again, producing bad lupus antibodies? Only time will tell as we follow these patients over time.

HI, we asked this question of Dr. Thomas and here is his answer. "The CART T programmed cells attach to and kill only the cells for which they are designed to recognize - the more mature B cells that have CD-19 molecules on their surface. So they are all destroyed. However, the most immature cells in the bone marrow that can become mature B cells later are still present and they reproduce, repopulating the body with important B cells to fight off infections. However, so far, they are not producing bad lupus antibodies like anti-dsDNA. That is why the scientists call it 'resetting the immune system.' However, cells producing anti-SSA are still alive, probably the most mature B-cells called plasma cells [which are not all killed off]. So we have a lot to learn. Also, could the immature cells that do not contain CD-19 become abnormal again, producing bad lupus antibodies? Only time will tell as we follow these patients over time." Thanks for asking this question!

@@kaleidoscopefightinglupus thankyou very much. A very dear person of mine have bad lupus. This can save her

@@shalevsaada7596 Good luck to her!!

Thank you! Share it with anyone else you might think could use this information.

Hi, cancer treatments are still the most common use of CAR T cell therapies, but there is some research for RA. You can find out more from the NIH here (scroll down the page): www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10328598/ We hope this helps! The KFL Team

@@kaleidoscopefightinglupusThank you

There is also a study in RA patients that did well. At the moment, the number of studies and treated patients is really growing... it is an exciting time for possibly better therapies for autoimmune disorders

Thanks for your comments; glad you enjoyed it! Please, share it with everyone you know.

Hi E! That is not something that we have come across. We hope someone else comments on your inquiry! - KFL

Thank you, Peri for the wonderful comments! It is so encouraging to hear that Essentrics has done so much for your lupus and fibromyalgia!

Yes, she is - and spread the word to your friends! Thank you.

I am 73 and my husband is 87 we exercise with Miranda 6 days a week. We love Miranda couldn’t live without her 😊.

Thank you Joanne, for your wonderful comments. It is so good to hear how well you are doing, and how much Miranda's programs have helped!

I feel the same way! In some circles, this is called "disuse syndrome" and though it isn't fully understood, it has a bit to do with several of our body systems - sometimes in different parts of the body that seem unrelated. Muscles slightly atrophy with lack of use, our oxygen levels in parts of the body decreases if we don't work our heart, lungs and blood vessels more ... and sometimes our emotional state when inactive can make us feel pain differently. At least there are plenty of resources out there with yoga and other activities that may be of help. We hope you get to feeling better! Thanks for leaving your comment!

Thanks, V R, for sharing this with anyone who can be helped!!